Gauchos Sign First Prospective Student-Athlete for '06-'07

Nov 18, 2005

Nov. 18, 2005

Announced yesterday, Pete Dolan, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country, signed the year's first prospective student-athlete for the 2006-2007 academic year. Katie Voigtlander, a senior distance runner out of Burlingame High School in Northern California, signed her National Letter of Intent earlier this week at her home.

Voigtlander, has had a great Cross Country campaign in 2005, she recently finished 2nd at the Central Coast Section Div. III Finals on the famed northern California course, Crystal Springs in Belmont. Her time of 18:19 on Saturday, over a hilly 2.89-mile course, was the 5th fastest time of the day in C.C.S. and the 7th fastest time of 2005. She was also 2nd at the 2005 Peninsula Athletic League finals in `05. During her Junior Track campaign, Voigtlander ran a quick 10:28.43 in the 3000m and an 11:15.56 3200m personal best. Her 3200m mark was the 6th fastest junior mark in the state of California.

Like many other long distance runners in the United States, Voigtlander began her running career to get in shape for soccer, but also to get in shape for downhill ski racing, a passion of hers growing up. Expressing the sentiments of probably many runners in the U.S., she stated, "I didn't really know what I was doing, but I was pretty good at it...I had an amazing coach and team...the 7 girls on the cross country team became my big sisters right away. There was just something amazing about this sport that I had never experienced in any other sport. Both boys and girls became like one giant family."

On attending UC Santa Barbara, Voigtlander, a well-balanced student-athlete that characterizes many on the Gaucho squad, commented, "my decision to attend UCSB as a student athlete was that it seemed like a place I could achieve all my goals. Academics and athletics have always been a big part of my life. UCSB offers great aspects of both. UCSB is one of the top public schools in the nation and I know it will challenge me academically. On the athletic side I fell in love with the team, it just felt like the right fit...the program also has a good history, I did my homework and UCSB has had some amazing athletes."

Before beginning her career as a UC Santa Barbara Gaucho, Voigtlander will conclude her senior Cross Country season for Burlingame H.S. at the California State Championships in Fresno, CA where she hopes to be a medal contender. She has set school records for her league course and the C.C.S. course and hopes to set another one at the State Meet course at Woodward Park. Voigtlander has also set many goals for her track season, which she comments, "I will work very hard to achieve them."

She is also looking forward to her final year working with the Associated Student Body as the Treasurer and different student and community groups she has been involved with like the Student Impact Team, which helps to bring awareness to issues such as sexual harassment and drunk driving. Voigtlander currently holds a 4.33 GPA and expects to graduate with honors.